Made to Mother

Stories by Moms About Motherhood from Across the Mother Spectrum

  • About M2M
  • About Wynter
  • Buy the Book!
  • Order M2M Swag

The Thrills and Frills of a First-Time Pregnant Mom – Guest Post by Joanna

August 3, 2015

My first pregnancy was about a decade ago. Yet, I can still remember how joyful it was when I saw my baby for the first time, holding her in my arms, while we make each other warm – my body heat on her skin, her presence on my soul. Truly, it’s a major milestone for every woman, because the birth of a child is also a birth of a mother.

It taught me everything a mother could and should learn. There were some steps where I wobbled along the way, but I got along just fine. Now that my third and youngest child just turned one year old, I can say that raising a toddler is just a walk in the park.

Check out these simple tips for first-time moms:

Seek Experts

Regardless if it’s a doctor or your mother, it’s best to have a chat with someone with experience and knowledge. From where I grew up, there are plenty of inexplicable changes that a pregnant woman may undergo.

Let me share a rather odd belief. One unique pregnancy notion in the Philippines is ‘paglilihi.’ Most Western research and doctors would refer to this as mere pregnancy ‘morning sickness,’ but from where I grew up, paglilihi is defined as a strong inclination to a certain kind of food (or even a person). When I first sought medical advice about my pregnancy, my doctor mentioned very little of paglilihi, but plenty about morning sickness. It was my mother who told me everything about how paglilihi works.

Aside from the usual morning nausea, my craving for lychee intensified. This sudden inexplicable craving went on until a few weeks before labor. The craving became uncontrollable, and very upsetting when not fulfilled. My mother said this is because it was my child who was responsible for the craving. True enough, Julienne, my eldest, loves lychees the most.

On the other hand, my mother knows very little of what food items will help me maintain a good health during my pregnancy. This is where my doctor was very helpful. As the saying goes, sometimes, “two heads are better than one.”

Read Credible Resources

Take note of looking for credible sources. Emphasis on the credible! These days, it’s sometimes easier to just go online and read all about pregnancy. However, too much information might cause unnecessary stress to some ladies. Reading about other’s personal experiences is good, but might not be applicable to you at all. It’s good to invest in credible books and resources so that all pieces of information are correct and have foundation.

Stick to your Routine

From your twice-a-week preggy therapy, to your weekly appointment with the doctor, it’s best to stick with your schedule. This is most important if there is a risk of miscarriage. Even if you didn’t do this before, remember that it’s for your baby’s welfare.

Shop in Advance

Yes, it’s really happening! Buy your baby’s clothes, bottles, sleeping area, and other baby essentials in advance. You don’t have to buy too much of each. Get 2-3 bottles first, since your baby might not opt for feeding bottles. Just make sure that your baby will have something to use when they arrive.

joanna-baby-clothes

Also, keep in mind that you will technically be useless and too tired to function for a few days after you give birth. Stock your fridge with easy-to-cook or pre-cooked meals that your husband, or even yourself, could easily prepare.

Take Care of Yourself Early

Since you will need a couple days of rest after giving birth, make a trip to a salon and nail spa a month or so before your delivery. It may be a while before you can do this after giving birth. You might also want to do things you thought of doing but never had the chance to. Early on your pregnancy, think of stuff you won’t be able to do once your child is born. If your doctor (and budget) permits, it may be the best time to go on a trip you’ve always wanted. Find peace, enjoy, and return with a happy and restored soul.

Anticipate your Delivery

Trust me, not knowing what to do moments before delivery is very stressful. When I first went into labor, I packed my hospital bag two nights before we went to the hospital. And, as anticipated, I still forgot to bring a bunch of essentials.

It’s also good to take a trip to the hospital ahead of time with whoever will be driving you to the hospital if it’s going to be an emergency delivery. Familiarize yourself with the route to the hospital, as well as with the hospital premises itself.

Pick your child’s Pediatrician

Since your baby will need medical attention, it’s important to choose your pediatrician well in advance. Regardless if you choose your child’s doctor, the hospital will be assigning one anyway. They should be notified once you’re nearly in labor, so they can make a visit when your child is born.

There are plenty of hurdles along the way. My eldest is now on her ‘tween’ years, and right now, what challenges me most is how I can guide her in one of the most crucial stages of her life which will shape her identity and personality until adulthood. Moms like us will surely know what to do, even if we don’t know how it works. However, just like a bird learning to fly, or a tadpole growing to become a frog, women are naturally programmed to conceive a child. We just have to trust our genes and our nature.

~~~~~

joanna-preggoBorn and raised in the Philippines, Joanna has been living in Dubai with her family for the past 10 years. Her journey to parenthood inspired her in spearheading Afterschool.ae, the best parent’s planning platform for after school kids activities in UAE.

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

3 Comments Filed Under: Blogging, Guest Post, Motherhood Tagged With: ae, afterschool.ae, blogging, children, Dubai, Family, first baby, first pregnancy, first time mom, Home, love, marriage, mom, mother, motherhood, mothering, Parent, parenting, pregnancy, story, UAE, woman

Comments

  1. Joanna @ kids activities dubai says

    August 3, 2015 at 6:15 pm

    Thank you very much for this opportunity, Wynter. I am really glad that I share my thoughts on your readers.

    Reply
  2. Ashwaq Hilal says

    May 29, 2016 at 8:32 pm

    Every first time is a thrill! 🙂 I am 3 months pregnant with my first daughter and every little thing makes me panic! Good thing my doctors in Marina Medical Centre are always ready for an explanation and I have the support of my family and friends.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. reviews online says:
    September 1, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    reviews online

    The Thrills and Frills of a First-Time Pregnant Mom – Guest Post by Joanna from Afterschool.ae

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Hi! I'm Wynter. Wife to Jonathan and mama to Chloe, Adaya and Liam. I am a writer, artist, MarCom professional, freelance editor, and an avid gardener, TV lover and chocolate-covered cherries addict. Come back here each week for new, powerful stories of motherhood from real moms across the mother spectrum. Read More…

Subscribe to M2M

Never miss a M2M story ever again! Sign up to receive M2M posts directly to your inbox.

Search M2M Stories

Categories

  • A Dad's Story
  • Abortion
  • Adoptee
  • Adoption
  • Adoption Month
  • Birth Mother
  • Blogging
  • Book Review
  • Breastfeeding
  • Child Loss
  • Childcare/Nanny
  • Childless by Choice
  • Christian Living
  • Christmas
  • College
  • Conference
  • Diagnosis
  • Divorce
  • eBook Bundle
  • Father Tributes
  • Foster Mom
  • Friendship
  • Giveaway
  • Grandmother
  • Guest Post
  • Homemaking
  • Infertility
  • International Mothering
  • Jail
  • Life Coach
  • Link Up
  • Made to Mother Book
  • Mentor
  • Miscarriage
  • Motherhood
  • Motherhood Vignettes
  • Movie Review
  • Moving w Kids Successfully
  • NonChristian
  • NonProfit Spotlight
  • Parenting
  • Pet Mom
  • Pregnancy
  • Product Review
  • Recipe
  • Season of Giving: Countdown to Christmas
  • Single Mom
  • Special Needs
  • Sponsored Post
  • Stay at Home Mom
  • Stepmother
  • Teacher
  • Teen Mom
  • Teen Pregnancy
  • teenagers
  • Trauma
  • Uncategorized
  • womanhood
  • Working Mom
  • Wynter

Recent Posts

  • Reflecting on a New Year
  • NEW M2M Swag Now available!
  • Today is the Day of Salvation: Don’t Put it Off Any Longer!
  • The COVID Family’s Guide to Deep Cleaning a Kitchen
  • We LEARN to Mother – Vaishnavi’s Story
Got a Story to Share? Contact me at wynter@madetomother.com

Top Posts & Pages

  • God is in Control of Your Family Size; You Just Have to Obey - An Unnamed Mother’s Story
  • 8 Life Skills that Science Teaches Children - Guest Post by Marcus from PsySci.co
  • About M2M
  • The Dangers of Teenage Travel #MakeSafeTravelHappen – The Tyler Madoff Story
  • I Trust You, Jesus, and My Hope is in You
  • 6 Road Trip Car Games to Play with Your Kids
  • How a Father Teaches His Son to Treat Women - Guest post by Wesley from iManscape
  • 6 Easy Tips for Brightening Up a Dark Room - Guest Post

Copyright © 2023 Made to Mother · All Rights Reserved
Theme designed by Restored 316 · Hosting provided by SiteGround

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.